Indexable key connector



y 1963 J. F. SHEARER ETAL 3,09

INDEXABLE KEY CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig. 1

INVENTORS (/004 f Shearerdaswgafi A? A/QI/Q A. )RNEYS July 16, 1963 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 J. F. SHEARER ETAL INDEXABLE KEY CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig. 5

INVENTOR$ United States Patent 3,097,905 INDEXABLE KEY CONNECTOR Jack F. Shearer, Highland Park, and Joseph A. Nava,

Villa Park, Ill., assignors to The Pyle-National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 89,814 11 Claims. (Cl. 339-186) This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly relates to an indexable key device for use with connectors wherein identical receptacle structures can be provided with multiple pro-alignments to insure proper mating relationship, however, the environmental integrity of the connector is maintained equal to that of a non-indexable connector.

In the connector art, it is standard practice to polarize the insulation and contact unit in a definite relationship with the keys which polarize the male shell and the female housing. This is generally accomplished by putting a key in the housing which matches a milled or molded keyway in the insulation. It is also standard practice to make the pin layout in such a manner that a multiplicity of keyways can be put in the insulation in such locations that similar units with different key locations cannot be plugged with any unit except the one for which it is intended. Some manufacturers make as many different receptacles as keying arrangements are required so that each paired unit can be mounted in line with assurance that each will only accept the properly keyed mating part. This, of course, results in multiple different male and female constructions.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an index-able key device is provided wherein standard parts can be prealigned in multiple prealignments, thereby enabling parts to be constructed of identical characteristics and such parts can be stock-piled and prealigned through the assembly relationship of the index-able key device.

Briefly described, there is a connector shell, and a polarization adapter. The connector shell has the same bore as a standard connector and the front end has a multitude of slots in appropriate positions to engage tabs or lugs on the inside diameter of the polarization adapter. The barrel of the connector shell is stamped with alternate key positions. The polarization adapter slips over the connector shell and has external key means for engaging the keyway in a mating receptacle and internal lugs or tabs of a lesser number than the plural slots or notches, thereby to prealign the adapter and the connector shell. The body of the adapter has a hole through which the alternate key position indicia means can be viewed. To change the key positions, the adapter is lifted until the lugs or tabs disengage the slots or notches, whereupon it is rotated to the next position.

In order to lock the prealignments, a lock nut may be provided which is threadedly engage-d into the end of the barrel of the connector shell and a flange on the lock nut covers the front end of the polarization adapter, as well as the end of the connector shell, thereby locking the parts in prealigned relationship. The flange of the lock nut is provided with circumferentially spaced detent means for engaging the mating detent means of a special spanner wrench, thereby preventing disturbance of the prealignment by unauthorized personnel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an indexable key connector for electrical connector apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved polarization means for a line connector wherein standard stock piled parts may be utilized and prealigned polarization schemes can be selectively incorporated by proper assembly of the part.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an indexable key device which utilizes simplified parts and which can be constructed with economy.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a selected prealigment feature for a polarizable connector wherein disturbance of the prealignment by unauthorized personnel is minimized.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a line connector incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view illustrating the indexable key device of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the device of FIG- URE 2 in assembled relation-ship;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view showing a special spanner wrench aligned with the detent means of a lock nut incorporated in the indexable key device;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of the special spanner wrench engaging the flange of the lock nut; and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the lock nut.

As shown on the drawings:

An electrical connector is shown generally at 10 and includes first and second telescopically related parts indicated generally at 11 and 12, respectively.

The part 11 comprises a main body shell 13 having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion 14 externally threaded as at 15 tor engagement with a similarly internally threaded lock nut 16 having a tool-engaging flange 17 and cooperable with a shoulder 18 provided on the other part 12.

If it is desired to connect the connector 10 in the aperture of a wall or some other suitable mounting means, a shoulder 19 formed on the main housing shell 13 is used as an abutment stop, whereupon a lock nut 20 can be employed in engagement with the threads 15 to clamp the wall member shown at 21. A sealing member 22 is ilso wn interposed between the wall 21 and the shoulder The part 12 is shown as comprising a main body shell 23 and has a forwardly projecting portion 24 extending axially forwardly of the shoulder :18 which is of a generally sleeve-like configuration and which terminates in a forward edge 26 characterized by a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 27.

A threaded neck 28 at the rear of the main shell member 23 threadedly engages an adjoining housing pant shown at 29.

In like manner, the main shell member 13 of the part 11 has a threaded portion 30 at the rear thereof for engagement with a lock nut shown at 31.

Any suitable insulation and contact unit may be provided within the housing parts 11 and 12 and such insulation and contact units will preferably be of the multiple pin variety, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The exemplary insulation and pin unit assembly illustrated in the drawings, however, includes male and female portions effecting multiple electric circuitry connections.

The part 11 houses a plurality of female contact members indicated generally at 32, each contact member 32 providing a socket 33 for reception of a corresponding male contact member and having a reduced neck portion 34 received in an opening 35 formed in a mass of resilient material 36 shaped in the form of a disk and having a peripheral surface engaging the bore wall of the main shell '13.

The resilient disk 36 is sandwiched between a rigid disk 37 and a front housing member 38. The nut 31 engages the disk 37 and clamps the resilient disk 36 against the housing 38 which, in turn, abuts against a seal ring 39 and a shoulder 40 formed internally of the shell member 13.

The other part 12 includes a plurality of male contact members 4-1, each having a reduced portion 42 seated in an opening 43 formed within a resilient disk 44. The disk 44 is clamped between two rigid rings 46 and 47, the ring 46 being shouldered against a seal ring 48 and a shoulder 49 formed internally of the shell member 23 and the ring 47 is abutted by an insert ring 50 axially advanced by the housing part 29, thereby to clamp the components in assembly.

The rear end of each of the respective contact members 32 and 42 is formed with an appropriate recess 51 by means of which an electrical conductor wire may be fastened by crimping or soldering.

With plural contact members being disposed within the shell parts 11 and :12, it may be desired to polarize the insulation and contact units in a definite relationship with the polarized connection provided between the interfitting parts 11 and 12. In this connection, it may be noted that the part 11 has formed in the forwardly projecting portions 14 of the main shell member 13 a keying slot which is shown at 52 in FIGURE 1. Such keying slot 52 would normally be engaged by a corresponding lug or key on the inwardly adjacent telescoping portion 24 of the part 12. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, however, the notched connector shell 23 is equipped with a polarization adapter to permit a selective preindexing arrangement affording multiple male and female insulation and contact unit arrangements cooperable in a definite relationship with the polarization key means between the shell housings.

The polarization adapter is shown generally at and comprises a cylindrical sleeve embossed as at 61 to provide a radially outwardly projecting lug 62 which constitutes a key for engaging the keyway or keyway slot 52.

It will be understood that the projecting portion 14 of the shell part 13 can [be provided with more than one keyway or slot 52 and in this connection the polarization adapter may include as many more embossed portions 61 and corresponding lugs or keys 62 as may be desired. In the present embodiment as shown in FIGURE 6 there are two keys 62 formed on the polarization adapter 60.

The adapter 60 is also provided with radially inwardly projecting lug means engageable with the notches 27 formed in the shell member '23. In the present embodiments, two such lugs are provided and are shown at 63, the two lugs 63 being situated near one end 64 of the sleeve-like adapter and projecting radially inwardly sufiicient to engage the notches 27 and make the adapter 60 lie in locked assembly when an end 66 of the adapter 60 is telescoped over the forwardly projecting portion 24. The spacing relationship between the lugs 63 is similar to the spacing relationship between the notches 27 so that upon lifting the lug 63 out of the corresponding notches 27, the adapter 60 may be angularly adjusted to a new register with a corresponding new pair of notches 27. When in full assembly, the end 66 lies immediately adjacent the shoulder 18. A sealing member 67 then embraces the ad-apter 60 for engagement with the end of the forwardly projecting portion 14 on the shell member 13. The sleeve or adapter 60 is a continuous cylinder at the end or face 66 so it abuts shoulder 18 without interruption circumferentially. The seal member 67 bears on the adapter sleeve 60 and the shoulder 18 so that closure of the receptacle -14 by the nut 16 compresses the seal 67 and effectively seals all internal portions of the plug connector 23. Environmental resistance is thus assured against penetration and effects of dirt, water, moisture, dust, etc.

In order to lock the selected assembled relationship of the adapter 60 on the shell member 23, a lock nut may be provided shown generally at 70. In this connection, the end of the forwardly projecting portion 24 has internal screw threads formed therein as at 71 and the lock nut 70 is provided with a threaded neck portion 72 for engagement therewith. A radially projecting flange '73 overlies the end of the fonwardly projecting portion 24, as well as the end 64 of the adapter 60. Thus, the adapter 66 will be locked in fixed position on the shell member "23 so that the keys 62 will engage the keyways 52 and polarize the insulation and contact units in a definite relationship to the polarized assembly of the housing parts 11 and 12.

The front of the flange 73 has a radial race 74 characterized by the formation therein of a plurality of circumrerentially spaced notches 76. The notches are so arranged as to cooperate with the lugs 77 of a special spanner wrench 78. By necessitating the use of the special spanner wrench 78 to change key positions, tampering by unauthorized personnel is minimized since it will be understood the special spanner wrenches can be issued to authorized personnel only.

To facilitate calibrated operation, the sleeve adapter 60 has an observation aperture 80 formed therein in register with suitable indicia means 81 formed on the peripheral surface of the forwardly projecting portion 24 on the shell member 23. The indicia 81 is correlated to the circumferential spacing arrangement of the notches 27.

Thus, the connector shell 23 has the same bore as a standard connector and the slotted front end engages the tabs or lugs 63 on the inside diameter of the polarization adapter 60. Since the barrel or peripheral surface of the connector shell 23 is stamped with the alternate key positions in appropriate positions, any selected angular adjustment of the adapter 60 may be effected.

The polarization adapter 60 simply slips over the connector shell banrel 24 and the two keys 62 are then arranged to engage the keyways 52 in the mating receptacle.

The lock nut 70 includes fine pitch threads 72 for engaging the threads 81 in the barrel 24, thereby to lock the polarization adapter 60 in place.

It will be appreciated that as many different arrangements may be effected as there are mating keyways, thereby facilitating multiple arrangements with identically constructed parts, while assuring that the connector parts may be mounted in line for current-continuing purposes with only the proper keyed relationship between the parts.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. An indexable key device for use with line connectors comprising a connector shell, a polarization adapter, and a lock nut, said connector shell having a bore formed therein and including a plurality of notches circumferentially spaced from one another at one end of the shell, said adapter comprising a sleeve telescoping over said shell and including external key means for engaging key means in a mating receptacle and internal key means engaging said notches in said shell at different angular alignments of said adapter relative to said shell, said adapter being apertured and said shell being indiciacalibrated in register with the apertured portion of said adapter to identify the relative angular alignment therebetween, and said lock nut being engageable with said one end of said shell and engaging said adapter to lock the adapter in fixed position, said lock nut having a flange overlying said shell and said adapter at said one end of said shell, and a plurality of recesses formed in said flange and spaced for mating engagement only with the similarly spaced logs of a special spanner wmench for restricting adjustment of the indexing selection to authorized personnel only.

2. In a connector, an inner cylindrical part having a front edge formed with a plurality of angularly spaced notches, an outer cylindrical part having in a lesser number than said plurality of notches lugs selectively engageable with said notches to prealign the parts angularly, said cylindrical part having internal screw threads at said front edge, and a lock nut having a threaded portion engaging said screw threads and further including a radially outwardly extending flange engaging the ends of said parts to lock said parts in prealigned assembly, said lock nut heing engageable with a spanner wrench, said lock nut and said spanner wrench having interengaging detent means, thereby to prevent adjustment of the indexing relationship by unauthorized personnel.

3. In a connector, an inner cylindrical part having a front edge diormed with a plurality of angularly spaced notches, an outer cylindrical part having in a lesser numher than said plurality of notches lugs selectively engageable with said notches to prealign the parts angularly, said cylindrical part having internal screw threads at said front edge, and a lock nut having a threaded portion engaging said screw threads and tu-rther including a radially outwardly extending flange engaging the ends of said parts to lock said parts in prealigned assembly, said lock nut having plural spaced slots formed in said flange hor engagement with the similarly spaced lugs of a special spanner wrench, thereby to prevent tampering with the indexed selection .by unauthorized personnel.

4. A connector comprising male and female parts and including a shell member and plural contact means carried by said shell member for mating engagement with other contact means, one of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion [formed with an internal polarization groove, the other of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion adapted to be received inside of the other cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion of said other shell memlber having plural notches formed in the forwardmost edge thereof, a polarization adapter sleeve on said notched cylindrical portion having internal ing means engaging at least one of said notches to prealign said polarization adapter sleeve on said part, and polarization key means on said sleeve engaging said polarization groove to prealign the male and female parts for mating assembly, said Lfiorwandmost edge having internal screw threads formed therein and a lock nnt engaging said screw threads and having a flange overlying said sleeve and said cylindrical portion to lock the same in prealigned assembly, said lock nut having spaced detent means engageable with the similarly spaced detent means of a spanner wrench, thereby to prevent disturbance of the prealignment by unauthorized personnel.

5. A line connector comprising male and female interfitting parts,

one of said parts having an axially extending groove formed therein,

the other of said parts having a plurality of notches circumferentially spaced from one another at one end of said other part,

a polarization adapter and a lock nut,

said adapter comprising a sleeve telescoping over said other part and including a first lug for engaging said groove,

said adapter having other lugs engaging said notches in said other part at diiferent angular 6 alignments of said adapter relative to said other p said adapter being apertured and said other part being indicia calibrated in register with the apertured portion of said adapter to identify the relative angular alignment therebetween, and said lock nut being threadedly engageable with said one end of said other part and engaging said adapter to lock the adapter in fixed position on said other part, thereby to'preindex the connector. 6. A connector comprising male and female parts,

each including a shell member and plural contact means carried by said shell member for mating engagement with other contact means, one of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion formed with an internal axially extending polarization groove, the other of said shell members having a forwardly projecting cylindrical portion adapted to be received inside of the other cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion of said other shell member having plural notches formed in the forwardmost edge thereof, a polarization adapter sleeve on said notched cylindrical portion having internal lug means engaging at least one of said notches to prealign said polarization adapter sleeve on said part, and polarization key means on said sleeve engaging said polarization groove to prealign the male and female parts for mating assembly.

7. A connector as defined in claim 6, said forwardmost edge of said cylindrical portion of said other shell member having internal screw threads formed therein and a lock nut engaging said screw threads and having a flange overlying said sleeve and said cylindrical portion to lock the same in prealigned assembly. 8. A connector as defined in claim 7, said sleeve having a viewing aperture formed in a wall thereof,

the underlying portions of said cylindrical part having indicia means in register with said viewing aperture to identify the selected angular alignment of the sleeve and the cylindrical part.

9. A connector as defined in claim 8, said lock not having spaced detent means engageable with the similarly spaced detent means of a spanner wrench, thereby to prevent disturbance of the prealignment by unauthorized personnel.

10. In a separable electrical connector, a socket having an externally threaded neck,

said neck having an internal axially extending keying groove formed therein, a plug having a neck telescopically received in said neck of said socket, an external peripheral shoulder on said plug spaced axially inwardly of the end of said neck on said plug, an adapter sleeve on said neck of said plug and having continuous cylindrical portions at one end thereof abutting said shoulder without interruption circumferentially,

said adapter sleeve having an externally projecting lug engaging said keying groove and said socket,

said adapter sleeve at its other end and said plug having plural keying detent means formed therebetween for locking the sleeve and the plug at selected different angular positions of adjustment relative to one another,

a seal ring surrounding said one end of said adapter sleeve and sealingly engaging one side of said shoulder,

and a nut on said plug abutting the other side of said shoulder and threadedly engaging said threaded neck on said socket to draw said plug and socket together into assembled relation,

said neck of said socket engaging and compressing said seal ring against said shoulder to effectively seal all internal portions of said plug connector. 11. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 10, said keying detent means comprising a plurality of notches in the neck of said plug, and a lesser number of lug means on said adapter sleeve extending inwardly to engage said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,017,597 Nava et a1. Ian. 16, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 595,195 Canada Mar. 29, 1960 799,317 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1958 71,890 France Aug. 17, 1959 

5. A LINE CONNECTOR COMPRISING MALE AND FEMALE INTERFITTING PARTS, ONE OF SAID PARTS HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING GROOVE FORMED THEREIN, THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS HAVING A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AT ONE END OF SAID OTHER PART, A POLARIZATION ADAPTER AND A LOCK NUT, SAID ADAPTER COMPRISING A SLEEVE TELESCOPING OVER SAID OTHER PART AND INCLUDING A FIRST LUG FOR ENGAGING SAID GROOVE SAID ADAPTER HAVING OTHER LUGS ENGAGING SAID NOTCHES IN SAID OTHER PART AT DIFFERENT ANGULAR ALIGNMENTS OF SAID ADAPTER RELATIVE TO SAID OTHER PART, SAID ADAPTER BEING APERTURED AND SAID OTHER PART BEING INDICIA CALIBRATED IN REGISTER WITH THE APERTURED PORTION OF SAID ADAPTER TO IDENTIFY THE RELATIVE ANGULAR ALIGNMENT THEREBETWEEN, AND SAID LOCK NUT BEING THREADEDLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ONE END OF SAID OTHER PART AND ENGAGING SAID ADAPTER TO LOCK THE ADAPTER IN FIXED POSITION ON SAID OTHER PART, THEREBY TO PREINDEX THE CONNECTOR. 